Bull tattoos are a great way to symbolize your fighting spirit. I've done a bunch of these tats before, and just last week, I had the pleasure of doing one for this really sweet client. She said she recently left an abusive relationship and wanted a black and white bull on her arm to show the world how strong she was.
I had this group of friends come in recently too, and they each wanted bull tattoos to represent the strength they had to finish med school because it was so hard. The thing is, they each got different bull tattoos, which made me realize there are so many ways to go about them. So, today, I thought about running you through the different bull tattoo ideas out there.
Here are all the best bull tattoo ideas that you can get.
To start this list off, let's talk about simple black bull tattoos. With some expert shading and texturing, you'll have a bull tattoo design that has a lot of dimension. The absence of color also lets you focus on the design of the bull itself and the strength that it symbolizes.
When it comes to black ink tattoos, there's no rule about using white ink, so you can add it for highlights.
Here are some black tattoos/monochrome tattoos that you can try out.
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Instead of going the monochromatic route, you can have fun with it and go for a colorful bull tattoo. You can go with any art style you want for the bull, as the whole goal is just to add color and make the tattoo look as bright as possible.
Whenever a client comes in for a colorful bull tattoo, I ask if I can go with unorthodox color choices (if they don't already have a vision in mind). So, think blues and purples for the skin instead of browns and oranges. This makes the tat more eye-catching and also gives it an almost ethereal look.
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If you're someone who wants to show your inner strength, but also your creative side, a watercolor bull tattoo will work well for you. I've done a few watercolor-style bull tattoos before, and I have to say, the watercolor effect can be tricky to get done. So, work with someone who knows what they're doing.
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The Minotaur is an ancient Greek mythological creature that has the body of a man and the head of a bull. It's typically associated with strength, power, potency, and even death. Getting a tattoo of a Minotaur is great if you want to show these qualities but also want to tell people that you're a big fan of the ancient world.
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The whole idea of the raging bull design centers on an angry bull chasing someone. It not only demonstrates that you have the fighting spirit of a bull, but also that you are fierce.
I had the pleasure of doing a raging bull tattoo for a client a few months ago. She wanted some knives to be added to the back of the bull to represent the hardships she's been through. I thought this was a really smart reference, which maybe you can try too.
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From what I've seen, most clients come in wanting scary bull tattoos to tell people that they are the wrong person to mess with. The raging bull tattoos I talked about above fit well in this category, as the main goal is to have a bull tat that would be as intimidating as possible. Nonetheless here are some other bull tattoo ideas for inspiration:
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Tribal tattoos are tattoo designs inspired by indigenous cultures. There are probably hundreds if not thousands of tribes globally, so tribal tattoo designs can vary a lot. For the most part, though, they have bold black lines and sharp, geometric patterns.
Tribal communities in many parts of the world use bulls as symbols of courage, so getting a bull tattoo in the tribal style is a fitting choice. Also, if you're someone who's into more minimalist pieces, I think that the tattoo style will work well for you: the style uses thick black lines and very minimal shading.
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By adding humor to your bull tattoo, you'll show the world your inner strength along with your lightheartedness. There are so many things that you can do with a funny bull tattoo, but the most popular route is doing a cartoon style that makes the bull look silly.
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Realistic bull tattoos are great if you want a bull tattoo that's an absolute show-stopper. Realistic tattoos regardless if they're of bulls or not have a meticulous number of details to them. So, don't be afraid to go big with the tattoo. I'd recommend going with your arm, chest, or even back for the placement.
Here's a disclaimer, though: realistic tattoos are hard to nail. A lot of the tattoo artists in my studio send their clients to me whenever they want a hyper-realistic piece done.
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Taurus, represented by the bull, symbolizes determination, stubbornness, and practicality. Taurus tattoos are popular with people whose birth sign is the bull. However, it also works great if you're an astrological person who wants a unique bull tattoo.
I've noticed that sometimes it can be hard to differentiate Taurus bull tattoos from regular bull tattoos. So, I like to add a bunch of stars and other constellation-related details to make it clear.
Also, remember how I said I like to do color bull ink pieces in blues and purples? This can also help make your tattoo more Taurus related, as the color combo will give you a more ethereal look. Here are some Taurus tattoo ideas that are a lot like this:
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Red is associated with passion and intensity, while the bull as you know symbolizes a fighting spirit. It's only fitting that you combine the two to represent how much of an unstoppable force you are.
You can go about the Red Bull design any way you want. However, I've done two of them where my clients wanted flames around their bull. I just loved this design idea and thought that you might like it too: it adds an extra dimension of intensity in there.
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Rather than getting an actual Red Bull tattoo, a fun twist you could go for is the Red Bull logo. It's two bulls facing off, which can represent your fierceness. But the tattoo is also great if you have a personal connection to the brand, or if you want to symbolize that you're strong but also energetic (inspired by the connection to the energy drink!).
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One of the best red-bull-related tattoos I've seen was a cartoon bull with wings. It was designed by another tattoo artist in our studio, and he used the same style that they used on the red-bull advertisements. I thought it was really silly and refreshing.
Here's a similar bull tattoo design:
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You can always go for a smaller bull tattoo if you want something more dainty. It's really up to you what you do with the bull tattoo in terms of style, but I wouldn't recommend going with any dramatic ideas: You're working with a small space, so trying to flex that creative will and adding a lot of details would be pointless.
Also, most of the smaller tattoos I've done have been on the arm and wrist, so perhaps this is something you can do too.
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If you're a big fan of the Chicago Bulls, why not pay homage to them and get their logo tatted on? When most people see your tattoo, they probably won't see the symbolism behind the bull and think that you're trying to show how strong you are. But instead, how big of a fan you are of the basketball team.
Since you're getting a tattoo to support your favorite team, you probably want to wear it proudly. So, I think it'll be perfect as an arm tattoo.
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You can either go small with the bullhead or big and let the little details in it shine. This is a more simple tattoo design, so it works well if you don't have any specific concepts or aesthetics in mind.
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Whenever I see a bull skull tattoo design, I don't think of resilience or strength but the impermanence of life. I think that'll be a great design if you're someone who's not afraid of death. Plus, the design looks gnarly, which can be an ice-breaker when meeting new people.
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If you want a bull tattoo with super intricate patterns, I'd suggest going big with it and getting a back tattoo. The back is the perfect space for larger tattoos (especially a masculine back), but it also can be discreet. Not that many people will see the bull tattoo, which works great if you work in corporate.
But as you might have guessed, doing a full-back piece can take time. In our studio, we try to finish ours in around 4 days. Plus, it can be expensive too.
It's really up to you what type of design you use, and whether you're going for a black and white or colorful bull tattoo. Here are a few bull tattoo ideas that you can use as inspiration.
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The forearm is another good spot to get your bull tattoo. But keep in mind that you'll likely have to go for a smaller piece, due to the lack of space.
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Speaking of forearms, you can go all out if you want and get a whole sleeve. You'll have the bull tattoo stretch from your forearm to your shoulder blade. However, if that's not something you're up for, you can opt for something slightly less flashy and get a half-sleeve.
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There's a common misconception that neck tattoos are primarily associated with individuals with a questionable past. Unfortunately, this means that there'll be some stigma to getting a neck bull tattoo. As they're not viewed positively, a bull tat in this location might not be the smartest move if you're job-hunting. But I think neck tattoos in general look cool.
Typically, neck tattoos aren't in the middle of the neck (where the trachea is). So, your bull tattoo likely will be in the corner towards your shoulders. But of course, if you want, you can speak to your tattoo artist and get the piece done right in the center.
I have to warn you, though, there are a lot of nerve endings on your neck. So, a tat here hurts.
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I've done a bunch of leg bull tattoos in all kinds of different styles. And I have to say, the placement is a mix of both discreet and easily seen, as you can hide the tat whenever you're in formal settings with pants. But you can also show it off when in shorts.
Depending on where in your leg you're getting tatted on, you might be working with a smaller or bigger space, like your calf versus the forward side of your thigh. Keep in mind that there's very thin skin on your ankle, so the closer you get to it, the more your tattoo will hurt.
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There are so many ways to go about a bull tattoo. However, generally speaking, bulls are these strong, dominant animals, so tattoos of them symbolize strength, power, and determination. As they are so dominant, they are also a good way to represent a masculine persona/masculine power.
You can also emphasize your fighting-spirit, and how much of an unstoppable force you are by getting a raging bull tattoo - it's supposed to depict an angry bull charging at someone. Now, if you want another way to represent this, you can perhaps get a red-colored bull tattoo. Speaking of a red bull, you actually can get the Red Bull logo tatted on as well - it can represent you not only being strong but also energetic.
Getting a bull tattoo is a great way to represent your fighting spirit. And as you saw in my guide, there are so many different bull tattoo designs out there to choose from. From this selection, my favorite just has to be the Taurus tattoo. Yes, I'm impartial, as I am a Taurus, but I think the design just looks very aesthetically pleasing.
Compared to other tattoos, I think doing bull tattoo designs is one of my favorites: I get to flex my skills when I do realistic bull horns and skulls. So, all in all, I hope you found all of my suggestions and bull tattoo ideas useful!
